Topic: Recommendations on Toothbrushing Technique
Published: British Dental Journal
For more information: Wainwright J, Sheiham A. An analysis of methods of toothbrushing recommended by dental associations,
toothpaste and toothbrush companies and in dental texts. Br Dent J. August 8, 2014. Epub ahead of print.
This study examined the diversity of toothbrush recommendations for both children and adults made by dental associations, toothpaste and toothbrush manufacturers, and professional sources (eg, dental textbooks, expert opinions). The researchers found little cohesiveness among the recommendations, including suggestions on how long the teeth should be brushed and in what manner. The Modified Bass Technique was the most frequently recommended, followed by the Fones and Scrub techniques. The authors assert that this lack of solidarity on toothbrushing technique is cause for concern among oral health professionals, and they suggest that additional evidence is needed to support across-the-board guidelines for effective toothbrushing for both children and adults.
Topic: Grant Awarded to Study the Control and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
In progress: University of Maryland Schools of Dentistry and Medicine in Baltimore The University of Maryland Schools of Dentistry and Medicine
received a 5-year, $10.7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to study the causes, prevention, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The grant is earmarked for the study of chlamydial and gonorrheal diseases as the outcome of complex interactions between the host genetics, the urogenital polymicrobial microbiome, and the pathogen’s unique genetics. The long-term goal of the research is to develop strategies and the means to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted disease worldwide—particularly chlamydia (caused by Chlamydia trachomatis) and gonorrhea (caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae).
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. September 2014;12(9):18.
